DUSHANBE, February 19, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A meeting of parliamentarians with female heads of NGOs and female activists from all regions of the country was held at the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) in Dushanbe on February 19.

Speaking at the meeting, the deputy speaker of the lower house, Ms. Shujoat Hasanova, noted that 11 of 63 deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon and three of 34 members of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) were women.

According to her, the main purpose of the meeting was to familiarize female activists with work of female parliamentarians and laws adopted by Tajikistan to support women and raise role of them in society.

Problems of gender equality were the focus of the meeting and its participants then saw round the Majlisi Namoyandagon.